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Letters to Cyclingnews - November 24, 2006

Here's your chance to get more involved with Cyclingnews. Comments and
criticism on current stories, races, coverage and anything cycling related
are welcomed, even pictures if you wish. Letters should be brief (less
than 300 words), with the sender clearly identified. They may be edited
for space and clarity; please stick to one topic per letter. We will normally
include your name and place of residence, but not your email address unless
you specify in the message.

Graeme Obree

Graeme Obree is one of the most interesting riders of the 90's. I read his
autobiography and it is riveting. He holds nothing back and I encourage others
to read it to learn more about this man. His life is not a "made for Disney"
story. Obree swings between genius and self-destruction.

When he was "on" he was truly inspiring. When he was down, it was surprising
that he survived. He was every bit the technical innovator that Greg Lemond
was. Both of them benefited from new handlebar designs. Lemond pioneered the
professional use of the Scott tri-bars to win the '89 Tour. Obree took the concept
one step further and set the cycling world on its head with Hour records and
pursuit championships.

The Hour record he set was one that Lemond and Hinault, among others, never
attempted. I am anxiously awaiting the film debut of The Flying Scotsman.

What about Leipheimer?

I think Discovery signing Basso is risky, but I can see why they jumped at
the chance to grab him. Assuming he was clean, his previous TdF performances
along with his crushing '06 Giro prove he's a star.

But what about Levi Leipheimer? He was a big signing for Discovery at the end
of the summer who also has some great credentials. I am a bit of a biased fan
towards Leipheimer, I admit. I'm from Montana and crossed paths with him in
our youths on the alpine ski race scene.

I was pumped that he was going into next year's TdF with a serious team to
back him up. I think adding Basso to the equation will relegate Levi to 1st
lieutenant and ruin his chances at the podium. It seems like the "dual-leader"
scenario never really plays out, there can be only one. Unfortunately, I don't
think it will be Leipheimer if Basso is in the picture.

French anti-doping laboratory #1

I have to agree with the Pierre Bordry, head of the French anti-doping agency.

It's not right for Floyd Landis to publicize his legal defense, which is heavily
critical of the laboratory's procedures, without first notifying the laboratory
in question and giving them a reasonable opportunity to respond.

That they should have to find out about this criticism through the media is
totally unfair. Suppose some of the criticism turns out not to be true? Irreparable
damage will have already been done to the lab's reputation and credibility.

Even if it is allowed to continue its anti-doping work, the lab will always
be tainted by these unfair allegations.

French anti-doping laboratory #2

So the French lab in question complains that Landis has conducted his defense
via the media and correct procedure has not been followed and they should be
given an opportunity to refute the acquisitions – is it me or is this all deeply
ironic and slightly sickening – at least they haven’t had their careers ruined
(yet).

French anti-doping laboratory #3

It is interesting to note the recent defensive nature of communications coming
from the laboratory which performed the testing on Mr. Landis' samples. They
are now convinced that information has been obtained in a nefarious manner and
that the security of their server has been compromised. Given the plethora of
security lapses and leaks which have surrounded this lab, is it a surprise that
there would be leaks in such a prominent case?

Perhaps the individual or individuals who have leaked information in the past
regarding various issues and riders have an interest in finding out the truth
and believed that their wrongful disclosure of confidential information was
in the best interest of the public and cycling. Perhaps that individual is a
member of the staff at the lab and has access to the various documents that
are claimed to have been obtained through hacking into the lab’s server. Perhaps
the server was never hacked into. Perhaps this person on the lab’s staff cares
more about truth, justice and accuracy than protecting the labs reputation or
pursuing an agenda against a rider or group of riders.

Perhaps disclosure of the labs record regarding the mishandling of samples,
history of false positives, and failure to follow accepted testing protocols
should be made know to the public and the entire cycling community in a full
and complete disclosure from the lab, after all they do not wish to have anything
but the truth come out, right?

Basso agrees to DNA testing #1

Now what does everyone have to say about Basso? Do they still think he's guilty
even though, if requested by the courts, he will submit a DNA sample? In the
dark times you really find out who your friends and foes really are. I believe
the Disco team and Basso had this planned from the beginning but decided to
see what wolves would rear their ugly heads before he publicly agrees to submitting
his DNA.

I know the nay-sayers will still say he won't give it up voluntarily but the
fact that he is willing to give it per the law/courts then it proves he is willing
to clear his name, but on his terms, not for public opinion.

Case closed. Basso to ride for Discovery with Levi and George! Can't wait to
watch the butt-whoopin' next year!

Basso agrees to DNA testing #2

I just read that Ivan Basso accepted to take the DNA test as part of his contract
obligations with Team Discovery. He'll officially announce it on December the
2nd before gathering with his new team in Austin (TX).

Basso will take the DNA test not only to clear his name after the 'Puerto'
operation accusations but also in any future National and International official
disciplinary investigations.

I have to say that this is a great relief to me as a supporter. I still have
a huge poster of Ivan climbing the Mortirolo waiting to be hung in my office
and even though I was not that quick to think he was guilty 'just' because he
was 'accused', as many others were instead, I couldn't help feeling extremely
disappointed and in doubt about the whole question.

It would be wonderful to have him back on the roads of the Giro and Tour as
absolute protagonist. Now I'm just curious to see what the reactions of the
other BIGS (Valverde, Bettini and Ulrich) will be, along with the UCI.

Basso agrees to DNA testing #3

According to Discovery, Basso has agreed to provide a DNA sample 'if this is
requested in a national judicial or disciplinary investigation.'

So he's willing to give a DNA sample IF one is required by the Spanish authorities.
This is a pretty safe bet that he will never be asked to do so in Spain because
Puerto is coming unhinged. This because Spain had no doping laws on the books
at the time of the raid. This has given the Spanish judges cause to dismiss
case after case since no law was broken.

The Italian authorities have already refused to pursue this and he has been
cleared by the Italian Cycling authorities. No sample will be requested there
either.

If you read the statement, it's clear that he has no intention of giving a
sample to the UCI. So, you see, he's stated that he's willing to submit a DNA
sample but only to those who have already made it evident that they don't want
one.

Anyone that reads between the lines and knows a parsed statement when they
see one can see that for Basso and Discovery to say that they are willing to
submit a DNA sample is disingenuous at best.

Other teams are taking steps to clean up the peloton and showing this by their
actions. It appears that Discovery prefers to issue carefully worded statements
to try and fool the public into believing that they're being above board when
they have no intention of submitting any evidence except to authorities that
no longer have any interest in it.

Basso to Discovery #1

In response to Eddie Humphries letter on Basso to Discovery, I would like to
point out to him that CSC did in fact pull Basso from the tour on hear say.
They were required to do this by the Pro Tour charter that required all teams
to suspend riders under investigation. Basso was under investigation hence he
could not ride. The tour organizers would also not accredit him even if CSC
wanted to still have him ride. He is no longer under investigation hence there
should be no problem going forward unless of course new facts come to light.

It really amuses me (in a bad way) that people are so prepared to condemn riders
with little or no proof of wrongdoing. I am all for guilty riders being treated
harshly as far as penalties go but they must be guilty and proved to be so.
Hear say and circumstantial evidence is not good enough. Procedural fairness
is a must.

I hazard a guess that these people calling for the heads of Basso, Ulrich etc
would be the first be howling in protest if the same tests of evidence were
used on them. That being someone saying that they had done something wrong and
not producing concrete evidence of that wrongdoing and as a result they are
precluded from earning a living and undertaking their profession. The general
public would not stand for this in their jobs why then should it be the case
for professional sportspeople.

Evidence is required to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt; if it does not
exist there should be no impediment to these guys plying their trade.

Basso to Discovery #2

I would like to congratulate and thank Discovery Channel Cycling for being
the leaders in their field. Perhaps it is because I'm an American that I generally
follow the, "innocent until proven guilty" modus operandi, but it is the opposite
mentality that is creating these extremely dragged out and damaging scenarios
to pro cyclists careers' from around the globe.

Now that it is for certain that Basso will be supplying DNA, it may or may
not be retroactively used to confirm or deny any involvement in the debauched
Operacion Puerto. My guess would be the international courts and sporting bodies
will ultimately determine if the DNA profile is used to further build or destruct
a case against Basso.

If Basso is then cleared of all suspicion and for good, Discovery will be regarded
as geniuses and other teams will be left enviously wishing they had the courage
and foresight to go through the same process.

If Basso is then further implicated, then so what, he's kicked off the team,
banned for what will probably be 4 years instead of two, and his career is over
and all previous results are tainted with a "?" and an "*" next to it.

Either way, at least the cycling community that follows and supports racing
stand a better chance at knowing the truth about Ivan Basso and Operacion Puerto.
The fact that Ivan's giving the DNA goes a long way in telling the world he
had nothing to do with it and should silence the critics for a little while
and hopefully for good.

Richard Virenque

I wasn't going to respond to this one but those last comments of Mac have prompted
me. You have got this wrong. First, Richard Virenque was there because he is
French. Second he was there because the French public still loves him.

The question is why? First you have to understand the French mentality and
French society. Here it is not unusual for around 50% of the population being
in some state of illegality.

I'll give you just a few examples one sees every day in my village: non-conformity
with the building regulations, pulling water from the river without authorisation,
no hard hats on building sites, the mairie (town hall) has an illegal dump.
The last one is important to note - the administration is involved as well.

My local police station is 100 metres from some shops which are 10 metres from
traffic lights. There must be 300 parking offences a day there. Nothing gets
done.

The president ran a corrupt system when mayor of Paris. His party passed a
law giving him immunity. A député (congressman, MP) got sent down for false
witness. He got re-elected afterwards. I could go on forever but you get the
message.

So, the French have a different attitude. And if he happens to have a baby
boy face and be a 'chouchou' (pet) of the public then he is good publicity.
So he is invited to the tour presentation.

The Tour is a business and it is in France and it is run by the French.

Probably the main reason that doping is a bigger problem in cycling than elsewhere
is that there is no controlling body that actually controls.

UCI are the problem

With all of the issues surrounding the Puerto riders and Pro-tour teams trying
to impose there own guidelines on the sport, where is the guidance from the
UCI? They have been particularly poor in communicating good advice to the teams
about how to proceed.

Here are my thoughts on how to proceed.

At the moment the Spanish authorities have said that the Puerto evidence cannot
be used for sanctions against any riders, lest not forget, who have not been
officially named, implicated and requested to come before a court. So the UCI
should state that all riders named should be allowed to ride until the Spanish
authorities allow the use of any files and then name the riders that they wish
to proceed against when they have all of the details in front of them and are
allowed to use them and are convinced of the facts, 100%. This is fair and democratic,
it appears that the riders have been sufficiently scared by the drug issue that
they may behave better now.

Now for the blood/DNA issue, simply state that all riders who wish to ride
for a pro-tour team for the next year, submit blood to the UCI, it should not
be DNA profiled or even tested, it should just be stored securely away for possible
use if needed.

Then in any case of any suspected doping infringement that may involve blood,
the UCI would then be in a position to get the riders sample from storage and
use that to confirm whether any blood found belonged to the rider or not. The
blood is in the ownership of the UCI for as long as the rider remains on a Pro
Tour team. Once the rider retires or leaves the Pro Tour, his blood is then
destroyed, untested. The riders would at least know where they stand then, blood
dope or get implicated and the UCI will prove whether it’s your blood or not,
how much more clarity would a rider need?

Remember it’s not for riders or teams to make the rules, it’s the governing
body, and at the moment the governing body is about as useful as a chocolate
fireguard!

What's going on behind the scenes?

I have just read Mr. Kilmer's letter and while I agree in spirit with his positions,
I do believe they're a little naïve concerning "increased testing".

Just how invasive should this sport become? Presently athletes are commanded
to put themselves at the disposal of testing any time of the day or night, in
or out of competition. I'd warrant all of the top athletes in the sport are
tested many times a year. And as reported in Cyclingnews.com plenty of lesser
riders have been tested and failed the tests indicating that testing per se
must be pretty extensive.

It would be interesting to discover cost of the individual testing. If it is
as expensive as when I was working in the field I would say that there was plenty
of motivation for labs to request "more testing". Can we say that increases
in testing will make significant increases in positive findings? Or will this
money simply go on to enrich laboratories that are connected to the UCI or l'Equipe?

Let's recall that we've heard preposterous stories denoting that the entire
peloton was doping and yet only tiny numbers of positives have shown up. At
the very least, hundreds of thousands of Euros have enriched the testing laboratories.

There is no doubt that doping needs to be strongly controlled if not stopped
altogether, but WADA and the UCI seems to have lost all perspective. They have
assumed the position not of governing body but prosecuting attorneys in my view.
And it certainly doesn't help the case that there seems to be untoward connections
between the testing laboratories and the governing bodies. How else explain
the sloppy work from the French lab and them retaining testing authority?

I am beginning to support Floyd Landis' belief that there needs to be a major
house cleaning at both the UCI and WADA if we are ever to have a sport governed
properly.

September 1, part 1:
The Eneco Tour controversy: Details, Reporting, Eneco vs doping, Time bonuses?,
Who was at fault?, One of those things, Discovery behaviour, More barricades,
No way for Schumacher to stop, Hard to stop, Officials to blame, The rules,
Schumacher amazing, Hincapie's 2nd Place Trophy

August 25: Eneco
Tour, Bring on an Hour Record, Cycling needs a dictator, Diane Modahl and
Floyd Landis, Natural process still possible, likelihood uncertain, Response
to 'No Doping Control is Insane', Testing procedures must be understood and
public, A German Pound?, All winners dope?, Change the things we can, Track
the testing, Cycling is not flawed, Defamation lawsuit, Dick Pound, How did
the testosterone get there?, Julich: "No one is able to cheat anymore", Floyd
Landis, Patrick Lefevere follow-up, Systematic doping? Where is the evidence?,
Ullrich's trial by media, Unfair dismissals

August 18, part 1:
Natural process still possible - likelihood uncertain, Denial, Dick Pound,
Oscar Pereiro, UCI - ProTour drug solution?, The problem with legalising doping,
Changing the rules won't stop cheating, Scandal reduces respect, Blood tests,
Corruption, A couple of questions, A couple of questions, A German Pound?,
According to WADA: Who isn't doping?, Collect samples every day from everyone,
Corruption in the system

August 18, part 2:
Does the dope fit the crime?, Doping and the death of pro cycling, Change
the things we can, Doping, Landis, tests, Dufaux?, Floyd, dope, and cycling,
Floyd's only way out, It's the jersey, Julich: "No one is able to cheat anymore",
Landis affair, Landis and faulty test equipment, Landis and what he leaves
behind, Lefevere, Phonak, and cycling's future, Stand by Our Man Landis, Only
one positive, How did the testosterone get there?, Patrick Lefevere, Please
help with these questions, Case thrown out, Stage 17 bad tactics or dope?,
What were the actual results?, Wouldn't it be great, Zero tolerance

August 11, part 1:
Patrick Lefevere, "The media knew before I did", A couple of questions , Distribute
the testing, A possible scenario for Landis, A real Tour, Anti-doping transparency,
Anyone hear Jack Nicholson?, Are we fighting doping or not?, Bad for cycling
- are you kidding?, Best way to deal with doping, Can some one please tell
me... , Case thrown out, CIR and T/E tests, Collect samples every day from
everyone, Complaining about drugs in cycling, Corruption in the system

August 11, part 4:
Players, Post race reunion, Robbie Ventura, Solutions are there, Stage 17
Bad Tactics or dope?, T-E testing and Oscar Pereiro, Testosterone cheating,
Testosterone Gremlins, The "System", doping, and so on, Who do you believe?,
Time to level the playing field, UCI - ProTour Drug Solution?, Ullrich, Why
process matters, Worse than VDB, Wouldn't it be Great!

August 4, part 1:
I will prove it, Doping, Landis, tests, Why process matters, Robbie Ventura,
Rubbish!, Leadership & cleansing, 21st Stage, A few minor thoughts, Stage
17 water consumption, Was it a recovery prep?, Anti-doping transparency, Bad
for cycling - are you kidding?, Best way to deal with doping

August 4, part 2:
Case thrown out, Center podium, Collect samples every day from everyone, Complaining
about drugs in cycling, Confidence in the testing system, Courage off the
bike, Who is Cowboy (2003)?, Crime and punishment, Nothing without the cyclists!,
Davis and four others, Does the dope fit the crime?, Doping & money, Doping
in cycling, An examination, Drug testing for cyclists, From a fellow pro,
In Floyd ..., Do the right thing, Floyd's steroids, Grow Up and Get Real!,
Future of testing, Idea for a clean Tour, Landis vs Periero TT, I'm done with
cycling, I'm retired as a fan of the pros, Feel like a fool, I'm so disappointed

August 4, part 4:
Losing hope against the dope..., Mitigating factor, No doping control is insane,
One toke over the line, Keystone Cops, Operacion Puerto Victims, Raise the
stakes, Something not right, Exhuming McCarthy, Testerone testing, Testing
procedure, Landis has been caught, The Jack Daniels defense, The Landis Situation,
French testing: a leaky boat, What a positive A sample means, The sieve called
doping control, Time to level the playing field, US Perspective, WADA, UCI
ruining sport, What about Pereiro?, What's the hold up?, Who's watching the
henhouse?

July 31, part 1:
I will prove it, Stop the complaining, Public perception, The process - flawed?,
Courage off the bike, Dallas on wheels, Surely not, Sick & insulted, Mitigating
factor for Landis, Landis... it is a shame, Landis' abnormal (supernormal)
results, Travesty, Who's watching the henhouse?, Could it have been the result
of the bonk?, I'm sick of this!, One toke over the line

July 31, part 2:
Why does McQuaid make a bad situation worse, Why does the UCI make a bad situation
worse, How one-off testosterone helps, Why risk it? Here's why., Must be natural,
Sick of hearing about doping!, Previous reading?, If Landis turns out to be
doped, Cycling on trial, All that is gold does not glitter, The science on
testosterone, Maybe I am a fool, Loons, Results not yet known, Surely not,
Cheated

July 31, part 3:
Who to believe, A slightly inappropriate Landis defence and proposal , Gut
feeling, Jaded, Landis, Latest doping allegations, Tired of the system!, Cheating
or not, Hard landing for the sport if Landis issue turns sour, Another Landis
comment, Why?, Elevated T levels in Landis, Crucified, Floyd Landis, What
is happening to cycling?

July 31, part 4:
Testing testosterone, It was the whiskey, Does the dope fit the crime?, Results
not yet known, Landis - Say it ain't so!, Doping, Landis, tests, Landis -
guilty until proven innocent, T/E ratio and treatment of Floyd Landis, Bad
science and a possible solution, Testosterone is a natural substance, Confidence
in the testing system

July 14, part 2: Landis' aero
bars, Wide Open Before the Cols- An Average Fan's Predictions, US Nationals,
Cipo @ the Tour, And the Winner is?, Boring spots, Disco Boys?, Enough Lance,
Is Discovery really a true U.S. ProTour Team?, Kloden by default, Millar's
new TT position, Photogenically Challenged Champions, Segregation is not the
solution

July 7, part 2: Legalise it!,
Doping, Greg LeMond, Plenty of riders don't dope, What I will do, Phonak,
Come clean, Hide & Seek, The Early Signs coming True, Doping and sponsors,
Santiago Botero not on the list, An alternative

July 7, part 1: Are we paying
these guys enough? Cardiac hypertrophy and sudden death, A cycling scandal?
A sad day for cycling fans, Discovery's team leader, Easier racing won't help,
Simoni, Cheats, Vinokourov, An open letter to Ivan Basso, Are we alone?, Sharing
the road, Searching for an old book

June 30, part 1: Easier racing
won't help, Communidad Valencia and the ASO, Doping & fans, What a Shame,
Sunny side of pro dopers, Tyler Hamilton: how long can he deny, The new "performance"
enhancer, Greg LeMond, Armstrong's letter to IOC, Armstrong, L'Équipe, WADA
& Pound, A call for one more test

June 30, part 2: Ullrich and
the Tour, Mancebo: The Unsung Hero, Hincapie to lead Disco, Jane Higdon, USA
junior development, Voigt vs. Hincapie, Operation Puerto, Where there is smoke,
there is fire, Watching the wheels come off, Why only cycling?, UCI request
for riders to submit signed statements, UCI leadership questioned by reporters

May 26 - Special edition:
Say it ain't so, Manolo, Say it isn't so, Spanish Federations' reaction to
Saiz, The doping scandal to end them all

May 19: Bettini is consistent,
Banning of altitude tents, Hypoxic tents, WADA and altitude tents, Latest
WADA crusade, WADA bans another, Congrats to Jan, Criticism of Jan Ullrich,
Jan bashing, Jan ready for the Tour, Jan's good form, Armstrong - the New
American Idol, The same old Lance, Defeatism in Discovery, Giro reactions,
One of Savoldelli's secrets, Rasmussen's time trial position, Riders under
helmets, Difference between following and leading, The Tour and the TT, Bruyneel's
Giro comments, When disqualification isn't enough

May 12: Marion Clignet, Bruyneel's
Giro comments, Criticism of Jan Ullrich, Jan bashing, Jan's weight, Defeatism
in Discovery, Lance talking up Basso, The same old Lance, Rasmussen's time
trial position, Giro team time trial, Hincapie in Paris-Roubaix, Riders under
helmets

April 28: Working for the team
in Georgia, Ullrich's thick skin, Ullrich and the 2006 Tour, Jan Ullrich racing,
Ullrich and THAT wheel, Jan Ullrich, Jan dramas, Paris-Roubaix technology,
Hincapie in Paris-Roubaix, Paris-Roubaix controversy, Paris-Roubaix comments,
Paris-Roubaix tech, Team helmets

April 21: Paris-Roubaix final
say, Paris-Roubaix controversy, Paris-Roubaix and technology, George and the
fork issue, Quotable quotes, Cycling technology, Behaving like a champion,
Paris-Roubaix: UCI Code of Ethics

April 7: Hang in there Saul,
De Ronde parcours, Edwig van Hooydonk, Discovery’s American riders, Tom Boonen,
April fools, Hair care product line, Brave new world, Commonwealth Games time
trial, Photo of the year